I've been lurking H&F since kyleb turned me onto it about a year ago, and have learned a ton from absorbing most of the info here, but now I'm having a bit of an issue that I haven't seen addressed, and I had to step out the shadows and ask the question myself.

Some background, I'm 37, and never really lifted routinely until this year. i had always been pretty naturally athletic, etc, and not until I became sedantary a few years ago did I start putting on some weight and getting out of shape, etc. I decided in March to turn it around and get back to my playing weight/shape. I've dropped about 40lbs since March, looking to drop about another 25, and have made significant strength gains along the way while doing a combination of SS and eating a strict diet.

I'm still making gains with SS, so I don't see myself needing to stray from it yet, but here is the issue I am recently encountering:

After I bench, I am having pains in my left elbow, and right shoulder. It feels like my rotator cuff, and on the elbow, it feels like pain comes right from the pointy bone.

I know, I know, I'm not to bright when it comes to medical stuff, and I've never really been injured or anything, and I loathe doctors,etc...and I'd rather get some input here to see if this is some type of common injury occurence during benching, etc.

FWIW, I've encountered this the last two times I've benched, and haven't had any problems with any of the other lifts, even after injuring the elbow/ shoulder. For example, doing presses, squats, deads, pullups, etc the elbow or should doesn't even bother me, but when I do the benching motion, it is excruciatingly painful.

Moving forward I'm not sure if I should skip the bench for a few weeks to "heal" or "rest" whatever the hell this is, or if I should try to reset weight on the bench and see if it gives me any trouble.

Anyhow, that's that...appreciate any feedback or input.

is your form correct on bench wtb video

Don't bench or OHP right now, period. That's the only thing I'm 100% sure of.

I don't know jeff I've hurt my shoulder bench pressing a few times but overhead pressing makes it feel better and keeps it strong. If he has no problems with it I'd say keep them in and lay off the bench press.

RB,

Your bench press form is bad. I would lay even money that you flare your elbows when benching.

is db bp-ing better for your shoulder than barbell bp?

I mean, sort of. It depends on what you mean. But generally, yes. It uses more muscles in the shoulder and requires more work out of the rotator cuff muscles to stabilize the weight. The barbell bench press without an overhead lift/activity is an unbalanced exercise (hence why Rippetoe wants you to do 1:1 Bench:Press workouts). The DB Bench Press is not unbalanced.

Rippetoe even acknowledges that DB > BB in Starting Strength.

You're probably right, considering I never paid much attention to form on BP, as I always thought it was pretty straightforward. Pick the bar up, let it down, and push it back up, etc.

Going to watch some BP vids now.

Do you bring the bar down with your elbows at or near 90 degrees with your shoulder line? That's what causes "impingement" and rotator cuff compression injuries.

Could be you have a weak upper back/rear delts too causing shoulder imbalance.

I stopped flaring, did ****loads more upper back/rear delts and my shoulders are great after having an impingement for a while.